Unobservant was not a word one usually pinned to Yoruichi. Even she didn't. Not even when she was tearing herself apart because of one guilt or another. That was why it was such a slap to her face when Kisuke used just that word when she expressed surprise at his bringing a woman to the store one evening. The fact none of the other three inhabitants had seen the 'painfully obvious signs' was only a small consolation.

She wasn't jealous watching the thin, well-endowed woman hang off of Kisuke, it was just Soul Reaper instinct. Her sudden appearance, her perfect red curls, the deep blue eyes, and full red lips were all, unnatural. No human looked like that, nor shinigami either.

Yet if she did not stop sending those smug looks in her direction, Yoruichi would tear her limb from limb, just like a jealous ex. Which she was not happy about.

"I'm going out." she hissed, unreasoned rage flaring up as Kisuke didn't respond, to busy explaining one of her successful experiments to the woman. He was an idiot, more than she'd ever thought. Even if she was a human and he exiled, telling her such things was a breach of every safety regulation. If she was abnormal, as Yoruichi was convinced she was…

Something had to happen before she killed something or turned him back over to the Soul Society. Or a combination of both, which would be very convenient. And ip the chances of them wanting to kill her.

"How long did he say she was staring?" She demanded of Ururu as she passed her in the store's yard. Odd how only the males seemed to be drawn to her, idiots that they were.

She looked up, her eyes thoughtful and less emotion driven then Yoruichi's were. "An hour or so? But she'll be back tomorrow."

"Would you like to come with me to find somewhere to stay for the next two days?" The elder woman volunteered, eyes cold as she stared at the shadows in the windows. :I don't think dinner will be made tonight and that's not a good thing for a girl who needs all the energy she can get."

Ururu smiled, "Thank you Lady Yoruichi."

Yoruichi watched her as she put the broom away and then as they walked out of the alley. This girl was as thankful and adoring as Soi Fon had been, but without the mindless dependence and the crippling way she pushed herself. At least she had this small, comforting link to her old life.

That didn't mean she was willing to give Kisuke this stupid way of feeling better.

Stepping out onto the sidewalk, Yoruichi glanced around, hoping to find a place with a low skyline. One couldn't simply go sitting on a stranger's rooftops in a gigei. Unfortunately. "Looks like we're going to be walking for a while Ururu."

She tried to sound chipper, but she hated leaving the males when they were acting so stupid. In the back of her mind, she knew she should stay, but she gritted her teeth and started into a ground eating stroll, almost forgetting the child beside her even thought she had just spoke to her.

Stupid males.

"Hey, uh, where's Ururu and Yoruichi?"

Kisuke looked away from the heated discussion he was having with Shiroa on the composition of one of his power dampers. Glancing around owlishly, he noted the sunset's light coming through the windows with surprise. "I…don't know Jinta. Maybe we should go look for them."

A bell-like laugh came from behind him and he turned, slightly affronted that she would find his concern humorous. Yes her words moved to sooth him immediately. "They left earlier, completely unharmed and unhurried. A 'girls' night out' I believe. Ururu appeared a bit young, but with all the marvelous, "She fluttered her eyelashes at him, "Things you've told me, I wouldn't know."

He stared blankly, searching his memory for this absence. There wasn't a recollection, but, his companion was a skilled conversationalist, maybe he should not be surprised that he had been distracted. "I suppose you're correct."

"Of course I am silly." She giggled, batting his hat down as she stood. "I'll go help Tessai in the kitchen. Perhaps I know a recipe he doesn't." Twirling, she strutted to the kitchen, leaving the two males grinning slightly.

Jinta sprawled back on the tatami mat and chuckled. "It'll be nice to have some mixed up food. When you went to get one of those weird items she walked to me about how she cooks at her house. 'Homemade seasonings are the secret.'" He quoted, grinning brightly. "Too bad Ururu will miss out."

"Yeah." Kisuke replied, rubbing his chin. It was kind of odd for Yoruichi to just leave without a mission or yelling at him. Could it be… He burst out laughing, startling his young comrade into sitting up. "Don't worry, I just had an outrageous thought."

Yoruichi, jealous, ha! Like that could ever happen. She had no interest in any living being, She lived for adventure and excitement, not romance! Kisuke knew she hated to be tied down to any place, that's why she kept wandering while she was here. She'd be gone very soon.

That didn't bother him in the least. It was how they'd always lived, and it was a small routine that made them all feel more comfortable in this mortal world that was surprisingly complex compared to the Soul Society's order.

He'd gone from a genuine happy mood into his usual brooding thoughts in a matter of seconds. Shaking his head, he stood, smelling the air and smiling widely. "Shiroa-chan, Tessai-san, something smells delicious! Can we eat now?"

A familiar sigh came from the doorway as the female opened the door. "Impatient, I only hope our cooking lives up to your expectations."

Grinning, Jinta hurried in to gain what he needed to set the table, surprised when Tessai announced he'd be joining them. Kisuke relaxed, whatever was wrong with Yoruichi couldn't be too bad, besides the fact she was missing an amazing meal.

The heavy knocking on the inside of Kisuke's head didn't decrease after taking the pills on his bedside table or when he stubbornly put his head under his pillow. It wasn't until a shoe came flying through the window that he began to think the noise was from outside the house.

He stood and moved to the opening, the sandal offered back out instead of his head, to see what would happen. A rude curse and another missile hit his hand. Resigning to the pain that would no doubt ensue because of this, he leaned out to meet the very unpleasant sight of a horribly awakened Yoruichi.

"Yeah?" He called down, nervous and still a bit groggy.

"I came to see if you'd regained your senses. Clearly not."

Her scathing tone had him replying before he'd fully processed what was going from his mind to his mouth. "Come off it Yoru, she isn't too bad. You've still got killer looks, and your legs are better. But you'd laugh in my face before hitting me if I ever honestly suggested anything. So why are you acting so strange?"

Kisuke was aware enough at this time to realize he'd overstepped something by the angry glint in her eyes, but he had no idea what that could be. Before he could backtrack though, Yoruichi was talking again.

"Tch whatever. Stupid man you can't talk your way out of anything. Especially the fact your stupid." His face registered as offended but she plowed on. "I need money so me and Ururu have a place to stay and eat for another night."

Yoruichi's eyes widened in shock as she avoided being hit on the head by the bag Kisuke seemed to have stuffed with money and flung with way too much force at her. "What was that for!" She demanded. How had that woman worked so fast to lure him into acting like a human?

"That's what you want right?" He snapped down at her. "Now that you have it you can leave right?"

She glared up at him, searching for the words to her question. She'd never been caught in a fight like this. "I suppose so, since I can't see why you're acting weird!"

"Me? You're the one who left the house for no reason and then say I'm the stupid one. What do you call what you're doing, because it certainly isn't anything wise!"

They locked heated gazes, neither one willing to break the stare and admit they were wrong. The door opened quietly and soon two pale arms wrapped around Kisuke's chest. "Breakfast is ready." Shiroa murmured, looking down at Yoruichi whose eyes were blazing with unshielded hatred.

Unable to find anything to throw at that stupidly, simpering façade, Yoruichi picked up the money and turned. "Lousy choice Kisuke." She murmured before flash stepping away to the hotel. She only hoped she got back before housekeeping discovered her dead-looking gigei.

Though humans sometimes deserved the scare.

Yoruichi sat at the hotel's table, fiercely stabbing her chopsticks into what remained of her tempura platter. It was rare for her and Kisuke to fight, and never about a person. Because he had always been too busy thinking, or inventing, or talking to her about missions. They talked, and trained, not fight.

Now, he was busy working on that secret of his instead of speaking to her. Not that she missed it, but she hated fighting with him, and not talking led to fights. Not. That. I. Care.

Each word of her thought was punctuated with a jab of her chopsticks until one broke. She stared at it before tossing it on the table and looking up at the wide-eyed Ururu.

"So, day off, what do you want to do?" Yoruichi was pleased her voice was calm, and almost kind as she said that. Kisuke shouldn't make her snap out at the world.

The young girl blinked at Yoruichi, then looked down at her plate. "Everything has been centered around me, gaining control as fast as possible, so I'm not sure."

Frowning, the ex-captain looked the girl over. "Well, first things first. You can't go around wearing that shirt uniform and some of my cut down, sew up pants. Or your old clothes. We're going shopping."

Silence met these words, and Yoruichi brought her gaze back to the girl's face. "Is there something wrong with that?" A shake of the head came from the girl. "Just because I don't appear very diverse in my clothing choices doesn't mean its not important. Besides, when you do start to grow, Kisuke will forget you need clothes other than what you have. It's his money anyhow."

With that defining air of purpose they finished the meal and left.

Yoruichi's head snapped towards the window, just as Ururu ran towards it. "Adjuchas." The Soul Reaper growled out. How tempting it was to just ignore it and let Kisuke handle it, and see if Shiroa could handle the life…

The thought of doing that was quickly shattered by Ururu's face blanking out as she turned to Yoruichi. "The Shoten…under attack…" She then took off, out of the room and flying down the stairs.

Swearing, Yoruichi dashed after her, earning no few glares and insults herself as she pushed people aside. Stupid gigei, it was too slow! If the girl got to an open place in this state, in front of humans, it would be disaster. If the Soul Reapers didn't get her, the scientists would.

She jumped forward and caught Ururu just as she exited the hotel. Holding her tight around the waist, she whispered fiercely in her ear.

"You can't go charging in there, no matter how much we want to. If people saw this, it would only make things worse. And the Hollow would swat you away. Just give me a moment to get into soul form and-"

Ururu broke free the moment the grip was loosened and jumped up, landing on a roof much to the shock of the older woman. The girl didn't look down as she spoke, "Must protect." She said calmly before taking off.

Frowning, Yoruichi ducked into an alley and came out a few seconds later in soul form. This was going to be one screwy mission now.

With her shunpo she reached the roof across from the Shoten and stared down at the spider-like Hollow.

Stupid man, why isn't he fighting it! As though her thought alerted him to her presence, he looked around. "Yoruichi?"

A blur flew past her and the cry of "Ururu!" Almost drowned out what he said.

"It's Shiroa!"

I. Am. So. Sorry it's been forever! But, as my page said, I had no computer and then no internet. And now I've got time at last! So, here you go! I can't promise fast updates, but I do promise them until the end! Please review!

~Willow